The Department of History offers a Standard Major, a Modified Major, an Honors Major, and a Minor. Most courses fall into one of four areas: (1) United States, (2) Europe, (3) Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, or (4) Interregional and Comparative. Because planning is essential, it is critical that a student establish a relationship with a faculty member who can act as an adviser. Any member of the Department can serve as a major adviser, and it is best to pursue this relationship as early as possible. If you do not know whom to approach, the Department Chair or Vice Chair will be happy to suggest a possible adviser to suit your interests. (The Vice Chair approves all modifications, double majors, and transfer credit inquiries.)

While the course information listed below was complete and accurate as it went to press, it is normal for scheduling changes to occur, including the adding and dropping of courses. For the most up-to-date list of courses, see http://www.dartmouth.edu/~history/courses/index.html

Standard Major in History

Students in the Class of 2018 and later should refer to the History Major Worksheet for the successful completion of at least ten History courses meeting the requirements. See History Department website (http://www.dartmouth.edu/~history/standmaj.html) for the requirements of the previous major.

Requirements:

The Standard Major in History comprises the successful completion of at least ten History courses that meet the following requirements

Geographic Distribution

Your ten History courses must include, at a minimum:

one course in the history of the United States (such courses are designated Major Dist: US in the course listing below);

one course in the history of Europe (designated Major Dist: EUR in the course listing below);

two courses in the histories of Africa, Asia, Latin America & Caribbean (designated Major Dist: AALAC in the course listing below);

one Interregional or Comparative history course (designated Major Dist: INTER in the course listing below).

Chronological Distribution

Your ten History courses must contain, at a minimum, two pre-1700 or three pre-1800 courses. In the course listing below, courses fulfilling the pre-1700 requirement are designated <1700 , while <1800 designates those fulfilling the pre-1800 requirement.

3. Seminars or Colloquia

All Standard Majors in the department must complete two courses involving advanced historical practice, one of which will represent the culminating experience. Most students meet this requirement by enrolling in two HIST 96s, which are small courses (normally capped at 12) that allow students to work closely with a faculty member and to produce a final project that represents either original research in primary sources or (with colloquia) a historiographical contribution to the existing scholarly literature. Those who complete the London FSP or the Honors Seminar (HIST 98), need to complete only one 96, which represents the culminating experience for the major. Careful advanced planning regarding enrollment in 96s is necessary for two reasons. First, the capped enrollment means that several 96s will have more students who wish to take the course than there are available spots. In these cases, the department and the instructor will prioritize enrollment. Second, work at the advanced level is most rewarding when it builds upon previous exposure to a field. You should work with your adviser to consider which seminars can best represent this sequencing model that follows exposure to a topic in introductory and upper-level classes.

4. Field of Concentration

All majors are encouraged to identify an area of concentration within the broad field of History. Establishing a critical mass of classes each related to a geographic, chronological or thematic concentration will enhance a student's ability to develop expertise and make connections. All students in the Class of 2016 and before are required to identify at least five History courses related to a field of concentration. One of these must be a culminating experience in the form of a HIST 96.

Limits and Exclusions:

At least five History courses must be taken in residence at Dartmouth College, one of them being HIST 96.

Students may not use more than three seminars and colloquia (HIST 96) and two independent study courses (HIST 97) in satisfying the requirements of the Standard Major.

Major GPA is figured on all History courses taken.

The Department will consider approving transfer credits for History majors and non-majors only for History courses taken at institutions with which Dartmouth College has institutional exchange programs (see Regulations section of this Catalog).

Only transfer students may receive credit for courses taken at other colleges or universities prior to matriculation at Dartmouth.

Modified Major in History

A Modified Major will be approved only if the student provides a convincing written rationale for the intellectual coherence of the proposed program of study. This should be produced at least two terms prior to graduation. Typically modifications will not be approved in the last two terms of a student's enrollment.

Requirements:

The Modified Major consists of the successful completion of twelve courses, eight of them in History, and four from one or more modifying departments/programs. If the four modifying courses are in a single department/program, your Modified Major plan and rationale must be approved by the Vice Chair of the History Department and the Chair of the modifying department/program. If the four modifying courses are drawn from more than one department/program, your plan and rationale for a Modified Major needs to be approved only by the Vice Chair of the History Department. The requirements in History need to meet the following requirements:

Geographic Distribution

Your eight History courses must contain at least one course from each of the following areas:

United States (such courses are designated Major Dist: US in the course listing below);

Interregional (designated Major Dist: INTER in the course listing below).

Chronological Distribution

Your eight History courses must contain at least two pre-1800 courses. In the course listing below, courses fulfilling the pre-1800 requirement are designated <1800 .

Seminars or Colloquia

Modified majors must complete one course involving advanced historical practice which will represent the culminating experience. Most students meet this requirement by enrolling in HIST 96, a small course (normally capped at 12) that allow students to work closely with a faculty member and to produce a final project that represents either original research in primary sources or (with colloquia) a historiographical contribution to the existing scholarly literature. HIST 98 (Honors Seminar) and the London FSP may not count as a culminating experience for Modified Majors.

4. Field of Concentration

All Modified Majors are encouraged to identify an area of concentration within the broad field of History. Establishing a critical mass of classes each related to a geographic, chronological or thematic concentration will enhance a student's ability to develop expertise and make connections. All students graduating in or before 2016 are required to identify at least four History courses related to a field of concentration. One of these must be a culminating experience in the form of a HIST 96.

Limits and Exclusions, described under the Standard Major, also apply to the Modified Major.

Honors Major in History

Potentially eligible students should meet with their respective advisers to plan for the History Honors Major. History majors who have achieved an overall College grade point average of 3.0 and one of 3.5 in History (based on a minimum of five graded History courses) may apply for admission to the Honors Program through a written thesis proposal submitted in the spring term of their junior year. Others interested in the program may petition the Department for admission. Please consult the History Department’s website at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~history/major/honors.html for more information.

The Honors Program in History consists of the successful completion of the following requirements:

The minimum number of courses as specified in (1), (2), (3), and (4) under the requirements for the Standard or Modified Majors.

In addition to, or as part of, the Standard Major or Modified Major, honors majors must complete the Honors Seminar (HIST 98) in the fall term of their senior year. HIST 98 may serve as one of the two required upper level seminars and colloquia for the Standard Major; it may not serve as the culminating experience in (3) above.

Honors majors submit a thesis written in their senior year (HIST 99.01 in the Winter Term and HIST 99.02 in the Spring Term). HIST 99 may carry up to two credits toward the degree requirement, but receives no credit within the Honors Major.

Limits and Exclusions, described under the Standard Major, also apply to the History Honors Program.

Minor in History

The Minor in History consists of the successful completion of seven History courses:

Geographic Distribution

Your seven History courses must contain at least one course from each of the following areas:

United States (such courses are designated Major Dist: US in the course listing below);

All Minors must complete one course involving advanced historical practice which will represent the culminating experience. Most students meet this requirement by enrolling in HIST 96, a small course (normally capped at 12) that allow students to work closely with a faculty member and to produce a final project that represents either original research in primary sources or (with colloquia) a historiographical contribution to the existing scholarly literature.

4. Field of Concentration

All Minors are encouraged to identify an area of concentration within the broad field of History. Establishing a critical mass of classes each related to a geographic, chronological or thematic concentration will enhance a student's ability to develop expertise and make connections. All students graduating in or before 2016 are required to identify at least three History courses related to a field of concentration. One of these must be a culminating experience in the form of a HIST 96.

Limits and Exclusions, described under the Standard Major, also apply to the Minor.